Cestodiasis in 2 Puerto Rican crested anoles

Abstract

Two adult male Puerto Rican crested anoles ( Anolis cristatellus cristatellus) housed in a research facility were presented with debilitation and were euthanized. On autopsy, anole 1 had a large cystic white structure in the left pelvic limb, which protruded through the ruptured epidermis, and a large, poorly demarcated swelling in the right caudal abdomen. Anole 2 had masses in the mid-dorsum, caudal dorsum, left pelvic limb, and tail. These masses contained variably sized cestode larvae, which ruptured into the coelomic cavity. Evaluation of the larvae revealed a thickened and wrinkled anterior end, with a cleft-like invagination, consistent with either a plerocercoid sparganum or a tetrathyridium. Histologically, several cestode larvae were contained in the body wall of both anoles. These were up to 650 μm in diameter, with a thin tegument and a spongy parenchyma. The spongy parenchyma contained numerous, up to 30 μm diameter, sharply demarcated, basophilic-to-black structures (calcareous corpuscles). There was pneumonia and hepatitis in anole 2, suggestive of potential secondary infection subsequent to immunosuppression. Molecular amplification of the cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 revealed 100% homology for the COX1 gene of the diphyllobothriid tapeworm Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, also known as Spirometra mansoni.